Damian Read, construction director for Pye Homes, explores the roots and principles behind the urban planning movement which is now helping to shape one of the largest private housing developments in the UK.

With their tree-lined avenues, clean air, local food and facilities, and affordable housing, it’s easy to see the appeal of garden villages – and how their popularity has spread from their early 20th Century roots in England to the likes of Scandinavia, Australia, US, South America and Japan.

‘The best of the city and countryside’ perfectly describes the principles behind the vision of late 19th Century urban planner Ebenezer Howard, who first came up with the idea of these new ‘garden city/garden village’ communities, as a way of combatting the overcrowding and industrial pollution of expanding Victorian cities.

Alongside the world’s first garden cities of Letchworth in Hertfordshire (in 1903) and Welwyn Garden City (1920), garden villages began popping up across the country:

  • New Earswick:Located near York, this ‘mixed income’ model village was founded by the York philanthropist Joseph Rowntree and developed to provide good housing and community facilities.
  • The Garden Village:Built in the early 1900s, in Kingston upon Hull, for the workers of Reckitt & Sons (a manufacturer of household products). Facilities here included a shopping centre, club house, a hostel for female workers, as well as several almshouses, several of which are listed buildings.
  • Penkhull Garden Village:Created in 1910 in Stoke-on-Trent; in 2007, it was designated a Conservation Area by Stoke-on-Trent City Council following a long campaign by the village’s residents.

The origin of these garden villages can be traced back to the ‘model villages’ which were developed by philanthropic industrialists such as George Cadbury (who founded Bournville in Birmingham in 1879), and the Lever brothers (who created Port Sunlight, Merseyside, in 1888).

Key principles of the original garden villages included:

  • The concept of land value capture, which ensures that the increasing value of land, driven by development and infrastructure improvements, is reinvested into community assets
  • Strong vision, leadership and community engagement
  • Community ownership of land and long-term stewardship of assets
  • Mixed-tenure housing, offering a blend of private homes, social housing and affordable rental options
  • A true garden village doesn’t just provide homes – it also creates jobs. The vision includes a sustainable and diverse local economy
  • Sustainability is woven into the very fabric, from green infrastructure networks to net biodiversity gains
  • These neighbourhoods are designed as walkable, vibrant spaces, where public parks, art galleries, performance venues, and local markets are just a short walk away
  • An integrated transport network that prioritises sustainable mobility. With an emphasis on walking, cycling, and public transport, the goal is to make these modes of transport the most convenient, affordable, and enjoyable options for residents

In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the idea of the garden village, and how the 19th Century principles can be used to shape new communities in the 21st Century to enhance the wellbeing of its residents. In January 2017, the Government announced its support for 14 new ‘garden villages’ – new communities of 1,500-10,000 homes.

Today’s garden villages can apply the same principles, but in a modern-day context, to create vibrant, diverse and affordable communities. Without providing the right employment, community facilities and range of housing, new garden villages risk becoming nothing more than commuter suburbs – the very antithesis of Howard’s original vision.

Taking some of the holistic principles and learnings from past communities, Welborne in Hampshire, just north of Fareham, is one of the new generation of sustainable garden villages.

Pye Homes is one of three ‘build partners’ appointed by Hampshire-based Buckland Group, alongside CG Fry & Son and Thakeham Homes, to deliver the first 600 of the proposed 6,000 homes at Welborne.

With shops, schools, workplaces, healthcare and open spaces in 14 neighbourhoods, it will be one of the largest private housing developments of its kind in the UK.

Pye Homes is responsible for 210 homes in this first tranche of work, with the first Pye home set to be completed in late Summer 2025.

Robert Adam, the conceptual architects for Pye’s scheme, took their inspiration for Pye Homes’ part of the scheme from 1920s architect Herbert Collins, in particular his designs for the Uplands Estate in Southampton – although he was also involved in Welwyn Garden City and Lechlade in Gloucestershire.

Buckland Group has worked on its vision for two decades, including travelling across the UK studying a range of housing schemes – some 100 years old, others much more recent. Five common themes identified in the most successful schemes were:

  • Good architecture
  • Thoughtful landscaping
  • Place-making
  • Place-keeping or stewardship
  • A ‘local first’ approach

Since 1927, Pye Homes has been taking the same pride in building homes and communities for almost a century.  With a philosophy akin to that of garden villages, Pye Homes build in harmony with nature and the local area, so that new homes simply belong as part of a community, right from the start.

Together with the other partners, we are creating a place that is sensitive to the surrounding area and villages and traditional in its architecture – Welborne will be a community we can all be proud of.

More than 50 per cent of Welborne will be green space, with no home more than 300 metres away from publicly accessible space. In total, it will have 70 hectares of green space, equivalent to nearly 100 Wembley-sized football pitches.

One of the main differences between Welborne and other new housing schemes will be the design of its streets. They will be diverse and pedestrian friendly.

Welborne’s carefully considered design will result in a complete community ecosystem of schools, shops, business premises, healthcare, playgrounds and public transport, along with parks and open space.

Housing developments often prioritise cars and pavement over green spaces, missing the opportunity to create a more traditional, nature-filled street environment.

At Welborne, however, streets will feature wide, green verges with trees leading to front gardens, embracing timeless design principles from the garden village movement that have shaped its creation.

Homes will be connected by a network of green spaces, providing easy access to shops, schools, sports facilities, jobs and more. The design of the streets encourages walking and cycling.

Welborne is being built with sustainability in mind, ensuring it remains beautiful and functional for years to come. Every home will be equipped with a low-carbon water source heat network, reinforcing resilience to climate change.

The project is driven by a shared vision to create a village that honours the area’s heritage while looking toward the future. We hope Ebenezer would approve.

Visit https://www.pyehomes.co.uk/developments/welborne/

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